THE EL PASO VALLEY
The El Paso—Santa Fe district is one of the five great centers of mission and colonization effort of tlie Spaniards and the second they started within the present. U.S. in J598 at El Pnsso del Norte (The Pass of the North) Don Juan do Oiiato with his followers took possession of this northern land for “himself, King Phillip II of Spain, and God,” then proceeded northward to colonize in the Santa Fe district. Santa Fe dates from 1G05. For 'several generations the Spaniards developed their interests around Albuquerque and Santa Fe. In IG59 the Mission of Nucs-tra Sefiora do Guadalupe was established at El Pnsso del Norte, now tile church of Juarez. In IG80 tlie Indians rose in the Great Rebellion around Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The Spanish and Christian Indian survivors of the massacre fled to the mission at Pnsso del Norte nearly -100 mi. away. With this tlie real history of El Paso and that interesting valley begins. The valley towns of Vslcta, Socorro and San Eliznrlo below El Paso were slowly established, mothered by the Mission Guadalupe. They date about 1G83. Tile Industry always fostered by the padres, the Irrigation and the productiveness of the Valley led to extensive development. The drive around this old district today is an interesting education to Old Spanish Trail travelers. The towns lie on tiie American side near Ysletn. The El Paso Chamber of Commerce women’s department Issues an interesting booklet with map.
Slowly after the rebellion New Mexico was reclaimed and Santa Fe today enjoys historical distinction ns the second oldest city In the U.S. El Paso on the American side canto into existence after the Mexican War of 1810-17 and Texas Annexation and the old Pnsso del Norte became Juarez. The old trail from Mexico City to Santa F© (Hie Cnmino Real or King’s Highway) is In this section a part of the Old Spanish Trail of today. It is believed Cabeza de Vaen and his three companions traveled thru the Pass in 1530. These were the only survivors of the Ill-fated De Narvaez expedition that landed in proud array at Tampa Bay to take possession of the Floridas. They fought their way around to the Tallahassee country. At St. Mark’s Bay, south of Tallahassee, they gladly escaped the country in crudely constructed boats and tried to reach Mexico. Storms and the great current in the gulf of the Mississippi River beset them; De Narvaez was drowned, the survivors were wrecked on the Texas shore and soon only De Vnca and three others survived Indian pursuit and hardship. For six years they were slaves to improvident Indians, then escaped across Texas. Central Texas Indians thought De Vnca a god and swarms followed him. In western Mexico he readied his. Spanish compatriots. This strange pilgrimage is believed to have gone thru tills pass In the mountains. De Vaca’s story is one of the epics of history.
YSLETA. The name is Spanish for little island. Settled by the Spaniards after the great Indian Rebellion in New Mexico in 1GS0. Its people are mostly of Spanish or Mexican descent. The old mission, narrow streets and adobe homes are distinctly foreign. The old valley, old towns and old irrigation lie around here; the Rio Grande is close. The Old Spanish Trail here is the "Valley Road” of El Paso; its old shade trees, irrigating canals, truck gardens and country homes are a refreshing picture.
♦EL PASO. EI Pnsso del Norte, the Pass of the North. Gateway to Mexico and the Southwest, keypoint to an empire. Manufacturing and distributing center. In heart of rich irrigated, farming, cattle and mining districts. Ft. Iiliss. one of the most important military and air bases in the United States, is located at El Paso.
The pass thru the mountains extends from the city some three miles north to the big smelter. The Old Spanish Trail from E] Paso follows the Rio Grande northward to Las Cruces, 42 mi.
The approach 10 101 Paso for GO mi. from the east is thru an irrigated section, some of it established in Spanish rimes, where cotton, alfalfa, winter vegetables, dairying and fruits arc produced. Canals carry the water from Elephant Ratio reservoir of the U. S. Heclnmatlon Service located up the Itio Grande in New Mexico 110 ml. north of El Paso—largest artificial lake in North America. Tills reservoir covers -10,000 A. and impounds water to irrigate
200.000	A. in I lie Paloinas, IUucoii, upper and lower Mesilia.
no
EL PASO—Continued.
El Paso and Juarez valleys. Elephant Rutte dam is 30G ft. high. 1.G7-1 long. Lake is 45 mi. long with 20G mi. of shore line.
Hotels—PASO DEL NORTE, refined, well-liked and El Paso’s largest hotel; auio dull headquarters in lobby, road information SHELDON, moderate, well located, cafeteria, tourist bureau. IIUSSMANN, new, fine hotel.
Camp Grande is One of the best auto camps in the U.S., all hinds of accomodations, attentions and comforts.
CIUDAD JUAREZ across the Itio Grande, pop. 15,000, is the largest Mexican city on the border in population, exports and imports. Characteristically Mexican it is visited and enjoyed by more travelers than any border city. The Chamber of Commerce or your hotel will give tourist passports or information.
Inf.—El Paso Automobile Club (AAA) at Paso del Norte Hotel. Also Camp Grande. Also Sheldon Hotel Tourist Bureau. Time changes here; reset your watch.
TEXAS-NEW MEXICO STATE LINE
Anthony, N. M.
NEW MEXICO—192 MILES Road Conditions
PUvenifnt El Paso to Lns Cruces, then Federal Aid sravcl across the State. Old trail west from Mcsilla Park now replaced with now road thru Las Cruces to Dcnilnp. Maintenance across New Mexico is pood.
Description of Country
Up flio Klo Grande Valley to Una Cruces are Irrigated districts of the Elephant Hutto reservoir; I.ns Cruces Is a commercial center for these sections and a nice little eily. Most of the section westward from has Cruces Is snmiy desert relieved at times by mountain peaks. Some Irricallon. not mod. some stock raisins. Silver and copper are mined. DomlliK and Lordsburs are bW Uttlo cities. Travel conveniences arc alone the nay. Tho drink Inp water is soft and pood.
Old History
The Spanish trail ofancientJ*y*	ot
wn»7he sVnt“n°C«« r„Uey in northern Mexico and thru -Nonale. to Tucson.
ANTHONY. Tlie business section in Texas: the P. 0. and many residences in New Mexico. This is u_secUon of the Cnmino Real (King’s Highway) fiom Mexico Cl Santa Fe and one of the oldest roads in the U S. Groups of the crude adobe and peasant hm of ‘fcbJaeter. laborers are seen along tlie jjaj. iyve *	=*	j	sprvice
istie of simple outdoor life. Numerous garages and ser
statious along the way.	M	oolteite	Two
MESILLA PARK. Supported by the A. & M. College.
country hotels. Free camp space.	, th	Las
•LAS CRUCES. The highway tuna	f™Cru-
Cruces by new gravel r0^,d ‘° C”“b™;abiercial center of the ces means “The Crosses; it is the ° Three mlles Elephant Butte irrigation	b	ga„-	Antonio—San
west is Old Mcsilla: La M^I“a ^Voverland trail of the Diego stage coach days and oft0f Cali-Cnllfornin gold rush j*nd s" southwest Territory when fornia: it was the capital of the ^ t mvstery and the tlmt was a vast empire of lepena an . county wns a county seat of Dona Ana County ^quistn,lores and the thousand miles wide. The Span .	Grande	Valley	to
froelced padres traveled«^	c-ountry.	made
Santa Fe and that mteicsting
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